Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons: Chiefly of the Present and Two ..., Volume 1

chamber, and who had been brought up with him. It exhibits a specimen no less of the sweetness of his temper, than of the excellence of his understanding.

** EDWARD,

"We have received your letters of the eighth "of this present moneth, whereby we understand "how you are well entertained, for which we "are right glad; and alsoe how you have been "once to goe on pilgrimage; for which cause "we have thought good to advertize you, that "hereafter, if any such chance happen, you shall "desire leave to go to Mr. Pickering, or to "Paris for your business: and if that will not "serve, to declare to some man of estimation, "with whom you are best acquainted, that as ** you are loth to offend the French King be"cause you have been so favourably used, so "with safe conscience you cannot do any such "thing, being brought up with me, and bound "to obey my laws; also, that you had com"mandment from me to the contrary. Yet, if ** you be vehemently procured, you may go as "waiting on the King, not as intending to the "abuse, nor willingly seeing the ceremonies, and K so you look on the masse. But in the mean "season regard the Scripture, or some good M book, and give no reverence to the masse at

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"all. Furthermore, remember when you may "conveniently be absente from court, to tarry "with Sir William Pickering, to be instructed "by him how to use yourself. For women, a* "far forth as you may, avoid their company: "yet, if the French King command you, you "may sometime dance (so measure be your "iheane); else apply yourself to riding, shootings "** tennis, or such honest games, not forgetting ** sometimes (when you have leisure) your learn"ing, chiefly reading of the Scriptures. This I "write not doubting but you would have done, "though I had not written but to spur you on. **Your exchange of 1200 crowns you shall re"ceive either monthly or quarterly, by Bartho"lomew Campaigned factor in Paris. He hath "warrant to receive it by, here, and hath writ"ten to his factors to deliver it you there. We "have signed your bill for wages of the Cham"ber, which Fitzwilliam's hath. Likewise we "have sent a letter into Ireland, to our Deputy, "that he shall take surrender of your father's "lands; and to make again other letters patent "that those lands shall be to him, you, and "your heirs, lawfully begotten, for ever; ad"joyning thereunto two religious houses you "spake for. Thus fare you well! From West"minster, the 20 of December 1551."

The

The following respectful and elegant little Latin letter of his to one of his Mothers-in-law, is in the British Museum.

The order for the Coronation of King Edward in the book of the Council is as follows:

"The Archbishop of Canterbury shall shew "the King to the people at four parts of the "great pulpit or stage to be made for the King; "and shall say, Sirs, here I present King Ed"ward, rightful and undoubted inheritor by the "laws of God and man to the royal dignity and ** crown imperial of this realm; whose conse"cration, inunction, and coronation is appointed "by all the Nobles and Peers of this land to be ** this day. Will ye serve at this time, and give 14 "your
"your good wills and consents to the fame con**secration, inunction, and coronation, as by your ** duty and allegiance ye be bound to do? The "people to answer, Yea, yea, yea; King Edward, ** King Edward!

** All things being prepared for the corona"tion, the King, being then nine years old, ** passed through the city of London, as hath "heretofore been used, and came to the palace of "Westminster; on the next day came to West** minster Hall; and it was asked* the people,' "whether they would have him to be King; "who answered, Yea, yea. Then he was ** crowned King of England, France, and Ire.* "land, by the Archbishop of Canterbury."

The ceremony of asking the consent of the people at the coronation of the Sovereign, appears to have been discontinued after the reign of Edward the Sixth. In France, according to Duclos, it was left off at the coronation of Louis the Fifteenth.

This excellent Prince kept a diary of his life* which is preserved by Bishop Burnet at the end

* First Diary of King Edward the Sixthj written by himsclf.

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of his History of the Reformation. Some extracts from it are here given*.

March 31, 1549. "A challenge made by ** me, that I, with sixteen of my chamber, should ** run at base, shoot, and run at the ring, with ** any seventeen of my gentlemen in the court."

April 1. "The first day of the challenge at ** base, or running, the King won."

August X. "Mr. Cook, Master of Requests, ** and certain other Lawyers, were appointed to "make a short table of the Laws and Acts that "were not wholly unprofitable, and present it "to the Board." > .... f. .

March 18, 1550. "The Lady Mary, my ** sister, came to me at Westminster; where, "after salutations, she was called with my "Council into a chamber, where was declared "how long I had suffered her Mass, in hope of **her reconciliation; and now being no hope, "which I perceived by her letters, except I saw "some short amendment, I could not bear it. "She answered, that her soul was God's, and

* Edward was so fond of his instructors, that when his tutor, Sir John Cheke, was ill, he prayed to God to grant him his life; and the grateful and pious Prince imagined that his petition had been granted.